Reinforced sheet metal cabinet construction



Aug. 29, 1944. F. SANDBERG REINFORCED SHEET METAL CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 23, 1940 Patented A 29, 1944 UNITED. STATES- PATENT orrlcs REINFORCED SHEET METAL CABINET CONSTRUCTION Folke Sandberg, Rockford, Ill., asslgnor to Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 23, 1940, Serial No. 357,858

12 Claims.

- dling of the range in the display room and during installation in the home. These one-piece tops are drawn to the form desired, so as to provide flanges along all of the edges and with a small radius between the cooking top portion and the back rail portion. The draw is deep enough to thin out the flanges at the rear corners so that they do not by themselves furnish suflicient strength and stiifness but are quite apt to flex sidewis when stress is applied to the back rail portion. Ordinary methods of reinforcement, as for example laminating the flanges at these corners for reinforcement, is not permissible or practical because of its adding difliculties to uniform enameling. It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide an improved gusset plate generally L-shaped but bent so that both legs of the L are disposed in planes in acute angle relationship to the flanges, the gusset plate being welded in place along its edges so as not to interfere with even heating of the top and back rail portions as required for uniform enameling, while at the same time giving reinforcement against deflection of the back rail portion in either direction.

Still another feature of the invention is the gusset plate which is so applied to the rear corner portions of the cooking top so as to serve as a convenient hold-down means for cooperation with hold-down clips for fastening the cooking top onto the top frame of the range chassis.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at the front of the rear corner portion of a cooking top to which the improvements of my invention have been applied;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at the rear of the same portion of the cooking top and illustrating the manner of fastening the same to the top frame of the range, by means of the gusset plate;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1, indicating one of the gusset plates in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the other gusset plate at the other end of the cooking top in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 3, indicating adjacent portions of the range in section;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section on the broken line of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are a rear view and perspective view, respectively, of the gusset plate removed from the range, Fig. 9 being a view of the gusset plate of Fig. 2 turned around.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

The reference numeral 8 designates the onepiece, drawn, sheet metal cooking top panel formed to provide a-cooking top portion 9 and a back rail portion III, the cooking top portion having its opposite ends defined by downwardly projecting flanges H. the lower edges of which are bent inwardly as at 12, and. the back rail portion ill having its opposite ends defined by rearwardly projecting flanges l3 coextensive with the flanges H. The upper edge of the back rail portion is defined by a rearwardly projecting flange II, the rear edge of which is bent down wardly, as indicated at IS. The coextensive flange portions ll-i3 due to the depth of the draw are suificiently thinned out at the corner portions ii to reduce the stiffening effect of these flanges enough to require additional reinforcement of thes .comer portions to prevent too much deflection of the back rail portion in the handling of the range in the display room or at the time of installation in the home. Too much deflection of the back rail portion either way relative to the cooking top portion is apt to cause cracking of the porcelain enamel finish at the corners I6 and along the juncture between the cooking top portion and back rail portion defined by the radius II. Reinforcementof the corners l6 by welding to the inner side of the flanges flat plates would appear to be an obvious and practical solution to the problem, but it was found that such thickening of the walls interfered with even heating and, consequently, made uniform enameling impossible; the thickened section would not fire like the rest of the piece and the enamel therefore did not become bonded properly to the metal and would accordingly peel or flake 011.

In accordance with my invention, generally flat L-shaped sheet metal gusset plates is are provided, one at each end of the cooking top panel 8, each with the horizontal leg I 8 thereof disposed under the cooking top portion 9 and with the vertical leg 20 behind the back rail portion It), the leg I 9 being in a plane at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane of the flange I l and extending upwardly and inwardly from the lower bent-in edge portion I! of the flange II, as indicated in Fig. 6, and the leg 20 being in a plane at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane of the flange l3 and extending forwardly and inwardly from the rear edge portion of the flange l3, as indicated in Fig. 5, these two legs intersecting on a line 2| extending forwardly and inwardly from the corner portion It, as should be evident from Figs. 2, 4 and 7. The inner substantially right angle edges 22 of the gusset plate are welded as at 23 to the bottom of the cooking top portion 9 and back of the back rail portion H). The outer substantially right angle edges 24 of the gusset plate are welded as at 25 to the bent-in lower edge portion 12 of the flange H and to the rear edge portion of the flange IS. The angularity of the legs l9 and 28 relative to the flanges H and i3 respectively and the fact that these legs are welded in place in the manner stated results in rigid support of the entire corner portion [6 so that neither of the flanges H and I3 can buckle in either direction from a substantially right angle relationship to the cooking top portion 9 and back rail portion H) of .thfe top panel 8, and the back rail portion I is accordingly held against deflection forwardly or rearwardly relative to the cooking top portion. The fact that the gusset plate l8 has only line contact with the cooking top panel along its inner and outer right angle edges 22 and 24, as distinguished from surface to surface engagement with the flanges El and i3, obviates the danger of uneven heating of the corner portions iii of the panel 8, and hence there is nothing to interfere with uniform good enameling. The space 26 between the gusset plate and the flanges II and I3 is open at both ends as well as at the corner points 21 and 28 of the gusset plate l8 so that there is nothing to interfere with uniform heating of all parts as required for good uniform enameling.

The gusset plates i8 being for the most part in spaced relation to the adjacent flanges of the cooking top panel 8 may, if desired, have slots 29 provided therein in the lower portion of the vertical leg 20 of each to receive the ends of holddown clips 30 for anchoring the rear corners of the panel 8 to the top frame of the range chassis.

The latter, asdisclosed in the copending application of Harold H. Ring, Serial No. 258,634, filed February 27, 1939, now Patent No. 2,295,915, September 15, 1942', has brackets 3| projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the top frame, a'

portion of which is indicated at 32. These brackets provide hand grip portions 33 thereon and also have lugs 34 through which bolts 35 are entered to fasten in place outer porcelain enameled side panels 36 by means of their inner flanges 31. The brackets 3|, of which there are two, one at each end of the range at the rear of the top frame, also serve as supports for the hold-down clips 30, the latter being fastened in place on top of these brackets by means of screws 38. The cooking top panel 8 has its flanges i2 resting on top of the top flanges 39 of the side panels 38, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, and the hold-down clips 30 are fulcrumed on the brackets 3| by their bent down inner ends l0 so that when the screws 38, which are entered through holes in the clips intermediate the ends thereof, are tightened, the clips to serve to clamp the cooking top panel down on the side panels in a manner thought to be self-evident from Figs. 2 and 7. At H is indicated one of a series of cushion pads commonly provided under the cooking top panel on the top frame 32 for solid support of the panel on the frame when the hold-down screws 88 have been tightened. It is clear, therefore, that the reinforcing gusset plates l8 serve an additional function and enable the fastening down of the rear comers of the. cooking top panel 8 without having any part of the fastening means exposed when the stove is placed, as usual, with the back thereof against or close to a wall. Moreover, the method of fastening disclosed greatly facilitates assembling at the factory and obviates danger of damage to porcelain enameled parts in the event the workman tightens one of the hold-down screws more than is necessary.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

; I claim:

1. A corner reinforcement for a sheet metal panel structure, comprising the combination with a panel member having sheet metal walls Joined to one another so as to define an L-section and outwardly directed flanges on said walls substantially in right angle relation to said walls and in substantially coplanar relationship to one another and Joined together, of a generally flat L- shaped gusset plate disposed in bracing abutment with the outer side of said L-section alongside said flanges, said plate being bent so that the outer generally L-shaped edge portions of the plate have line contact with the flanges in spaced relation to said walls, and the inner generally L-shaped edge portions of the plate have line contact with the first mentioned walls in spaced relation to the flanges, said plate being suitably secured in place on the panel member with said first mentioned edge portions tightly engaging said flanges and said last mentioned edge portions tightly engaging said walls in the manner stated.

2. A structure set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the substantially coplanar flanges has an inwardly bent edge portion disposed in abutment with the adjacent outer edge of the gusset plate.

3. In combination, a one-piece, drawn, sheet metal cooking top panel for a range, comprising a substantially horizontal cooking top portion and an integral substantially vertical back rail portion, one end of said portions being formed to provide a continuous substantially vertical flange extending downwardly from the cooking top portion and rearwardly from the back rail portion, and a generally flat L-shaped sheet metal gusset plate disposed with the inner substantially right angle edge portions of the horizontal and upright legs of the L in line contact with the bottom of the cooking top portion and back of the back rail portion respectively and secured thereto in laterally spaced relation to said flange, said plate being formed so that both leg portions thereof are inclined outwardly toward the adjacent flange, the outer substantially right angle edge portions of said plate having line contact with and being secured to the inner side of said flange in spaced relation to said cooking top and back rail portions.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein at least the downwardly projecting portion of the flange on the end of the cooking top portion has an inwardly bent lower edge portion disposed in supporting engagement with the adjacent outer edge portion of the gusset plate.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 3, whereso as to offset the inner edge portion into one plane in laterally ofl'set but substantially parallel relation to the plane of the outer edge portion.

7. A sheet metal cabinet construction comprising in combination a cabinet frame having a top portion, a side panel adapted to be supported on the frame and having an inwardly bent substantially horizontal flange on the upper edge thereof, a top panel comprising a top portion disposed over the top portion of the frame, and a back rail portion extending vertically upwardly from the rear portion thereof, the panel top and back rail portions having a continuous substantially vertical flange on the end thereof, that portion of the flange on the panel top portion extending downwardly therefrom having an inwardly bent lower edge portion resting on top of the inwardly bent flange on the upper edge of the side panel, and combined hold-down and reinforcing means for the rear corner portion of the top panel, comprising a generally flat L-shaped gusset plate bent so that the inner substantially right angle edge portion is offset laterally in a substantially vertical plane from the substantially vertical plane of the substantially right angleouter edge portion, said plate being disposed with the inner edge portion in line contact with the bottom of the panel top portion and back of the back rail portion, said plate having the outer edge portion in line contact with the inner side of the flange on the end of the panel top portion and back rail portion, said plate being secured to the top panel in the position stated to resist fore and aft deflection of the back rail portion relative to the panel top portion, and means on the top portion of the frame of said cabinet engaging the gusset plate to urge the latter downwardly, whereby to secure the top panel in place by means of the gusset plate.

8. A cabinet structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the gusset plate'has one of its outer edges bearing on top of the inwardly bent lower edge portion of the flange on the panel top portion.

9. In a sheet metal cabinet construction, a sheet metal comer gusset plate comprising a onepiece generally l -shaped sheet metal body bent so as to offset the inner edge portion into one plane in laterally offset but substantially parallel relation to the 'plane of the outer edge portion, the cabinet comprising walls in fixed right angle relationship, the inner edge portion of said plate being secured to the back of said walls, the cab inet comprising another wall in fixed right angle relationship to the first walls, the outer edge portion of said plate being secured to the back of said last mentioned wall.

10. In an enameled sheet metal panel structure, the combination of a one-piece sheet metal panel member formed to provide portions in substantially right angle relationship with a continuous flange on one end thereof in substantially right angle relation to both of the aforesaid portions, said panel being enameled on the outer exposed surfaces thereof, and a one-piece substantially flat sheet metal gusset plate generally L-shaped bent so as to oflset the inner substantially right angle edge portion into one plane in laterally oflset but substantially parallel relation to the plane of the outer substantially right angle edge portion, said plate being disposed with its inner edge portion in line contact with the backs of the right angle portions and fastened thereto at spaced points, as by welding, and the outer edge portion being disposed in line contact with the back surface of the continuous flange and secured thereto at spaced points, as by welding.

11. .An enameled sheet metal cabinet structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the continuous flange has at least one longitudinal edge portion thereof bent inwardly for abutment with the adiacent outer edge of the gusset plate.

12. An enameled sheet metal cabinet structure as set forth-in claim 10, wherein the gusset plate has the outer corner portion thereof cut away so as to provide an opening between the plate and the adjacent flange.

FOLKE BANDBERG. 

